Katy Plumbing Inventory Case Study With eTurns TrackStock
Key Takeaways
- Eliminated daily trips to supply houses for field technicians
- Saved about 5% of net revenue, or roughly $750,000 annually
- Enabled real-time inventory tracking across 30 to 40 service trucks
- Automated replenishment based on actual usage data
- Improved technician productivity by keeping trucks consistently stocked
- Reduced time spent searching for parts and managing inventory
Company Overview
Katy Plumbing operates a fleet of 30 to 40 service trucks, each stocked with the parts technicians need to complete jobs in the field. Before implementing eTurns TrackStock, managing inventory across trucks and the warehouse was a daily challenge. Technicians frequently had to stop work to visit supply houses, and the company lacked visibility into what inventory was on each vehicle.
The Challenge
Before eTurns, technicians at Katy Plumbing visited supply houses at least once per day to pick up parts. This created inefficiencies, lost time, and added costs. The company needed a way to track inventory across every service truck, allow technicians to use parts in the field, and automatically replenish inventory without manual effort.
Key challenges included:
- Daily trips to supply houses that reduced productivity
- No real-time visibility into truck inventory
- Difficulty tracking inventory usage and costs
- Time spent searching for parts instead of serving customers
- Lack of control over replenishment across multiple vehicles
The eTurns Solution
Katy Plumbing implemented eTurns TrackStock to manage inventory across both service trucks and the warehouse. With TrackStock, technicians can use parts directly from their trucks while the system tracks usage and triggers replenishment in real time.
Inventory levels update automatically, giving the company full visibility into what is on each truck and in the warehouse. Reports are generated regularly to identify low stock levels and are sent to suppliers to ensure accurate restocking. This ensures trucks are replenished with exactly what they need, without over-ordering or shortages.
"We’re not in the parts business, we’re in the plumbing business. We want to spend more time with our customers and less time worrying about parts."
See How Katy Plumbing Eliminates Supply Runs
Watch how Katy Plumbing uses eTurns TrackStock to keep service trucks stocked, reduce supply house visits, and streamline inventory replenishment across the field.
Results and Operational Impact
The impact of eTurns TrackStock was immediate and measurable across Katy Plumbing’s operations.
Key results include:
- Eliminated daily trips to supply houses
- Saved approximately 5% of net revenue, or about $750,000 annually
- Reduced material costs and improved inventory accuracy
- Increased efficiency across 30 to 40 service trucks
- Minimized time spent searching for parts
- Improved replenishment with data-driven ordering
By keeping technicians stocked and ready, Katy Plumbing significantly increased productivity and reduced operational waste.
Improved Efficiency for Technicians
With eTurns, technicians no longer need to manage parts inventory manually. After work orders are completed, truck inventory is automatically tracked and replenished. Materials are ready for pickup the next day, eliminating the need for supply house visits.
This allows technicians to focus on their core job rather than tracking parts.
"With the amount of techs I have to provide
parts for, research parts for, and deliver parts
to — I would be sunk without eTurns. Instead
of 9 to 10 hour days, I would be putting in
12 to 15 hours at least."
Conclusion
eTurns TrackStock transformed how Katy Plumbing manages inventory across its fleet. By automating replenishment, improving visibility, and eliminating supply runs, the company reduced costs, increased efficiency, and allowed technicians to focus on serving customers.
With real-time tracking and data-driven replenishment, Katy Plumbing now operates with greater control, lower costs, and a more efficient workflow across every service truck.
Download the full case study PDF to see the complete story and service truck inventory solution.
Video Transcript: Katy Plumbing Case Study
Before eTurns, Katy Plumbing technicians had to visit supply houses daily, which slowed down work and reduced productivity. The company needed a way to track inventory across 30 to 40 service trucks and ensure parts were always available without manual effort.
With eTurns TrackStock, technicians use materials directly from their trucks, while the system tracks usage and automatically triggers replenishment. Inventory is updated in real time, and reports are generated to restock trucks based on actual usage, not guesswork.
As a result, Katy Plumbing eliminated most supply house trips, improved efficiency, and gained full visibility into inventory. The company saved about 5% of net revenue, reduced material costs, and enabled technicians to focus more on customers rather than on managing parts.
